European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Production and Sustainability (EIP): How to realise the bottom-up principle?

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1 November 2013 Dr. Susanne von Münchhausen Politics and Markets of the Agri-Food-Sector European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Production and Sustainability (EIP): How to realise the bottom-up principle? Political Forum on the sixth international scientific conference Rural Development Innovations and Sustainability Kaunas/Lithuania, 28/11/20 Susanne v. Münchhausen and Anna Häring, HNEE Das ESF-Projekt wird gefördert durch das Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur aus Mitteln des Europäischen Sozialfonds und des Landes Brandenburg. Europäischer Sozialfonds - Investition in Ihre Zukunft! Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (FH) Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 28 D Eberswalde Prof. Dr. Max Mustermann HNE Eberswalde (FH) Modul Wirtschaftskreisläufe Seite 1

2 Outline European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Production and Sustainability (EIP) EIP implementation in the State of Brandenburg Role of Eberswalde University How to realise the bottom-up process? To conclude Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 2

3 European Strategy Europe 2020 Strategy The Commission underlines the role of research and innovation as key elements in preparing the European Union for future challenges. Budget for Europe 2020 The Commission provides 4.5 billion for research and innovation on food security, the bio-economy, and sustainable agriculture. Europe 2020 flagship initiative the "Innovation Union" introduces the concept of European Innovation Partnership EIP as a new way to foster innovation. EIP Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability is one out of four. Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 3

4 Sector study on innovations Knowledge and technologies often exist but Insufficient practical applicability of research results Lacking dissemination within the sector Missing consumer participation reduced acceptance! Need of practical foundation of innovative processes and technologies (e.g. testing local applicability) Identification of (potentially) negative effects in an early stage of the innovation development Farms (forestry businesses) often have capacities for developing innovations but little encouragement/support Recognition of the researchers role (methodology, publication, networking etc.), but problem of discontinuity of staff (junior staff) Bokelmann et al Analysis of Innovation Systems in the German Agriculture Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 4

5 Aim of EIP A new concept to bridge the gap between research and innovation, Horizon 2020 and other research programmes and between local and regional innovation action funded trough different sources, private, rural development, cohesions funds Based on Operational Groups (s) involving actors such as farmers, scientists, advisers, NGOs, enterprises of the agriculture and forestry sector Source: SCAR AKIS CWG 25 April 2013 Inge Van Oost - DG Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 5

6 EIP Network NW NW NW Focus group Focus group Focus group Focus group Focus group Workshop Workshop Workshop Seminar Seminar Seminar EIP on different levels

7 EIP implementation on EU-level: Research based DG-Agri initiated EIP Agriculture but the concept follows the logic of DG-Research concepts Steering board and Thematic Focus Groups Expert panels develop research plans Calls for cross-disciplinary scientific consortia Theoretical framework of Horizon 2020 similar to Operational Group and national networks concepts but Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 7

8 EIP implementation on the regional/national level (RDP) EU support under Rural Development Programmes Art 36 - Cooperation measure for Operational Groups Innovation brokerage can be supported via technical assistance - Art 55 (2) animation under the cooperation measure - Art 36 (5) advisory services - Art 16 (1) Identification of innovations is only possible in the review the criteria innovative is unsuitable for funding. Mainly funding for farming and forestry businesses No extra funding within the second pillar of CAP! Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 8

9 Operational Group () Set up of cross-disciplinary groups consisting of farmers/forestry businesses, scientists and other stakeholders s focus on the development of new products, processes and technologies s run "pilot projects, pursuing the testing and adaptation of technologies and processes to "new" geographical/environmental contexts (i.e. contexts in which they have not yet been used). Source: SCAR AKIS CWG 25 April 2013 Inge Van Oost - DG Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 9

10 Implementation in Brandenburg State of Brandenburg in the north-eastern part of Germany, rural countryside around Berlin Family farms (all sizes) and large scale legal farms (Ltd., limited partnership, registered cooperative) Brandenburgian Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture (MIL) is willing to introduce EIP for re-strengthening locally applied research and innovation development but What will be the available budget (RDP: total and for different measures/articles)? Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 10

11 First steps: a top-down process Federal states discuss the programming for the period with the Federal Ministry BMELV Budgetary constraints Legal implementation Administrative implementation Close(d) connection between Brandenburgian Ministry Infrastructure and Agriculture MIL and the ZALF institute (mainly founded by Brandenburgian und Federal Ministry for Research) MIL as responsible for RDP avoids inter-ministerial cooperation re innovation development with Ministry of Economics and Ministry of Science Non-transparency of EIP programming Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 11

12 Eberswalde University Regionally applied research for agriculture and forestry Establishment of the Innovation Network for organic farming in Brandenburg Based on the Innovation Network, there are several ongoing cooperative study and research projects Climate change adapted arable farming (INKA BB) Direct marketing concepts (Lifelong Learning I) Strengthening competitiveness of typical farming systems (Lifelong Learning II) Das ESF-Projekt wird gefördert durch das Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur aus Mitteln des Europäischen Sozialfonds und des Landes Brandenburg. Europäischer Sozialfonds - Investition in Ihre Zukunft! Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 12

13 Status-quo of the Innovation Network at Eberswalde University Start-up in 2004 Currently around 80 cooperating farms/enterprises, thereoff 30 cooperation contract 50 assoc. enterprises Farmers Processors Merchants/wholesalers Stakeholders Researchers/teachers Students at HNEE Abbildung: Übersicht der Kooperationsbetriebe (Stand 2013) Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 13

14 Competences of the team Policy analyses Interpretation of research results into practitioners language Connecting potential partners of innovation projects Information on policy concepts, facilitation of processes and workshops Continuity due to permanent university staff but budgetary constraints! We wanted to get involved now! HNEE team s initiative! How? Organisation of a EIP seminar and workshops for drafting project ideas in Nov Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 14

15 Lessons learned from network management Network manager has a key role as connector, driver, facilitator, Innovation Broker. Personal contact and trust is a precondition for innovation project development. Monitoring and evaluation drive on-going adjustments. Project development, formal applications, administrative requirements challenge practitioners. Successful projects need practical foundation for further dissemination. Need to deal with farmers scepticism towards cooperative approaches (historical background of eastern Germany). Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 15

16 Discussion of the EIP concept Strengths Promising concept for fostering the cooperation: farmers scientists Based on the vision of inter-ministerial, cross-border and cross-disciplinary communication and cooperation Funding of innovative projects, pilot plants, groups and networks Fostering administrative flexibility within Rural Development Programming Similarities with LEADER+, learning from existing networks in the region Learning from well-established Innovation Centres in NL, Belgium Bottom-up principle! Weaknesses Complexity of the concept difficult communication and understanding Who drafts project proposals with/for farmers? Different funding logics on EU- and regional/local levels Unclear structure of vertical integration Competition for funding within RDPs RDP based cross-border funding limited (but necessary for learning!) Challenging administrative bodies Implementation as non-transparent topdown process is possible! Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 16

17 To conclude EIP implementation depends strongly on open-minded practitioners, scientists, ministry and administrative staff. In some countries, involvement seems limited due to the concept s complexity and programming behind closed doors. However, own initiative is crucial! Don t wait too long for participating in EIP and s! Unclear situation might even offer options for agenda setting and new dynamics in the policy development process. Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 17

18 to conclude Role of research institutes Permanent staff guaranties continuity in cooperating with ministries and farming/forestry businesses Scientists can bridge the gap between rural development schemes (partner farms) and research funds (national and EU consortia) Reporting into national networks and focus groups Experienced innovation brokers provide information if we ask. EIP is an impressing tool which needs to prove if and how it works. Dr. Susanne v. Münchhausen European Innovation Partnership Agriculture 28. November 2013, Kaunas Page 18